Disposable capsule for machines for the dispensing of infused beverages

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a disposable capsule for the preparation of infused beverages. The capsule has a body having a main cavity or chamber in turn having a first dispensing opening adapted to put the main cavity or chamber in fluid communication with the external environment, wherein the main cavity or chamber contains a measured dose of a first food product (FP1) in a granular form. An inner cavity or chamber is formed in the main cavity having a second dispensing opening and containing a measured dose of a second food product (FP2) in granular form. The main cavity or chamber and the inner cavity or chamber are arranged in fluid communication with one another. The disposable capsule also has closing means between the first and second dispensing openings, configured to be selectively activated upon emptying of the first or of the second food product (FP1, FP2).

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the preparation of infused beverages such as coffee, chocolate, tea, herbal teas and the like starting from disposable capsules and in particular to a disposable single-dose or multi-dose capsule to be used in machines for infused beverages.

BACKGROUND

Disposable capsules used in dispensing machines for infused beverages contain a food product in a granular or particulate form, for example coffee. It is known that a beverage is obtained through an “infusion” process, whereby a capsule containing the food product is crossed by an infusion liquid, typically water, which is supplied under pressure and at a high temperature. The infusion liquid coming out from the capsule is enriched by the aroma of the food product and forms the desired beverage, which is suitably channeled within a dispensing machine and served by a dispensing head thereof.

Disposable capsules typically comprise a frustum-shaped hollow body whose open top has a flange on which a cover generally formed by a gas-tight film is applied. The cover serves to seal the cavity of the frustum-shaped body so as to allow to preserve of the food product contained therein over time.

In use, a capsule is fitted in a brewing chamber of a dispensing machine for infused beverages and subsequently perforated by way of special drills on the top sealed by the cover. Perforation of the bottom may also be carried out depending on the type of capsule. The hole or holes so made allow passage of a flow of liquid through the capsule from one of its ends to the opposite end.

It is known that in order to prepare infused beverages such as e.g. cappuccino that have more than one ingredient, it is necessary to use a number of capsules containing respective basic powder products, for example milk and coffee. These capsules must be used in a precise sequence according to the recipe for the preparation of the specific beverage. The preparation of infused beverages comprising more than one ingredient from disposable capsules is therefore expensive and uncomfortable for a user.

In order to solve this problem, multiple-compartment capsules have been conceived allowing to prepare by way of an infusion process beverages and, more generally, food products requiring more than one ingredient. Each compartment contains a single food product in a granular or particulate form and is provided with a respective dispensing opening. Injection of an infusion liquid into the compartments is carried out in a sequential manner e.g. by employing respective injector needles, thus allowing to dispense the infused beverages obtainable from each food product according to a predefined sequence, suitable to prepare the desired final beverage.

Examples of multiple compartment capsules of this type are disclosed in patent publications WO 2014/057094 A1, US 2014/161940 A1, US 2007/196402 A1 and WO 2010/137960 A1.

Multiple-compartment capsules can be improved as far as their inner structure, as well as the injection sequence of the food products contained in their compartments are concerned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The technical problem posed and solved by the present invention is therefore to provide a disposable capsule for dispensing machines of infused beverages that allows to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above with reference to the prior art.

This problem is solved by a disposable capsule according to claim 1. Preferred features of the present invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

An idea of solution underlying the invention is to make a capsule whose body comprises a main cavity containing a first food product, as well as at least one inner cavity or chamber that is separated from the main cavity and contains a second food product. The main cavity and the at least one inner cavity or chamber are provided with respective openings for the dispensing of an infused beverage obtained by supplying an infusion liquid into each of them. The capsule also comprises closing means of one of the dispensing openings, which can be selectively activated upon emptying of the food product contained in the respective cavity or chamber. The cavities or chambers are put in fluid communication with each other through a plurality of apertures through which the infusion liquid is made to flow upon the activation of the closing means.

Thanks to this configuration, the capsule according to the invention allows the infusion of the food products contained in its separate cavities or chambers, as well as the dispensing of the respective beverages, in a sequential manner without the need to pierce the cover of the capsule at multiple locations, nor to employ and sequentially manage separate flows of infusion liquid, which results in a considerable constructional simplification of the infusion unit of a machine for dispensing infused beverages that receives the capsule.

In other words, the capsule according to the invention can manage autonomously and in a sequential manner the infusion of the food products contained therein and the resulting dispensing of the infused beverage, and can therefore be employed in infusion units of a traditional type.

The closing means are formed by a shaped body, preferably having a spherical shape, which is configured to tightly engage the dispensing opening. The shaped element is made of a material having a density higher than that of water and lower than that of the food product contained in the respective cavity or chamber. This allows the shaped element to float in the infused beverage when it is dispensed through the dispensing opening of the cavity or chamber and to subsequently close the dispensing opening when the cavity or chamber is filled by the infusion liquid.

Further advantages, features and operation modes of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, which are given for illustrative and not limiting purpose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will be made to the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a capsule according to the present invention for the preparation of infused beverages;

FIG. 2 is a perspective, exploded view showing a longitudinal section of the capsule of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective, exploded view that schematically shows a longitudinal section of the capsule of FIG. 1, in whose cavities or chambers respective food products in a granular or particulate form are present;

FIG. 4 is a perspective, exploded view showing a longitudinal section of a capsule according to an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective, exploded view similar to the view of FIG. 4, which shows the cavities of the capsule filled with respective food products in a granular or particulate form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference initially to FIGS. 1 to 3, a disposable capsule according to the invention is generally indicated by reference number 100.

The capsule 100 comprises a substantially frustum-shaped body 110 having an axis A, in turn comprising a main cavity 111 delimited by a bottom wall 112 and by a peripheral wall 113. The body 110 also includes a flange 114 formed along a top edge of the peripheral wall 113. In a packaged configuration of the capsule 100, i.e. ready for use, the main cavity 111 contains a measured dose of a first food product FP1 in a granular or particulate form, for example milk powder.

The capsule 100 further comprises a cover 120, e.g. made of a polylaminate material, tightly fixed on the flange 114 so as to allow to preserve over time the food product contained in the main cavity 111.

The body 110 also includes a first dispensing opening 115 e.g. formed in the bottom wall 112 and configured to allow to dispense a first infused beverage obtained by making an infusion liquid, typically water, to flow through the main cavity 111 from an opening formed in the cover 120 towards the bottom wall 112.

The first dispensing opening 115 may advantageously comprise a filter element 115 a, for example a mesh filter, configured to prevent particles or granules of the first food product FP1 from exiting from the cavity. The filter element 115 a may be advantageously integrally formed with the body 110 of the capsule 100.

At least one inner cavity or chamber 116 is formed in the cavity 111 of the body 110. A measured dose of a second food product FP2, which is also in a granular or particulate form, is contained in the inner cavity or chamber 116 in a ready-to-use configuration of the capsule 100. The second food product FP2, e.g. coffee powder, is different from the first food product FP1. The inner cavity or chamber 116 comprises a second dispensing opening 117. In the embodiment of the capsule shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the second dispensing opening 117 is e.g. formed in the bottom wall 112 of the body 110 where the inner chamber 116 is located.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the inner cavity or chamber 116 extends in the axial direction of the body 110 from the bottom wall 112 to the flange 114 and a top edge 116 a of the inner chamber 116 is tightly fixed to the cover 120. It is thus possible to ensure a complete separation between the inner cavity or chamber 116 and the main cavity 111, thus avoiding that the two food products contained in the capsule 100 are mixed with each other.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, as well as in the embodiment that will be disclosed by referring to FIG. 3, a single inner cavity or chamber is formed in the capsule 100, for example having a substantially cylindrical shape arranged coaxially to the cavity of the body 110. However, it will be appreciated that these features do not limit the invention. In fact, the inner cavity or chamber 116 might also be formed by exploiting a part of the peripheral wall 113 of the body 110 of the capsule 100 by providing a partition wall along a secant plane parallel to the axis A. Additional inner cavities or chambers separated by respective partition walls might also be provided. The configuration of the capsule 100 according to the invention is such that, by making an infusion liquid, for example water, to flow into the inner chamber 116 of the capsule 100 it is possible to obtain a second infused beverage, which is dispensed through the second dispensing opening 117 in a completely independent way relative to the dispensing of the first infused beverage. This configuration of the capsule 100 thus allows to prepare a multiple ingredient beverage, such as e.g. a cappuccino.

The second dispensing opening 117 may advantageously comprise a filter element 118 having a planar shape and arranged in the inner chamber 116 so as to prevent escape of particles or granules of the second food product FP2. In addition, a plurality of ribs 117 a may advantageously be formed in the second dispensing opening 117. The ribs extend in the direction of the axis A of the capsule 100 and are e.g. arranged radially. The ribs 117 a allow to divide the flow of an infused beverage obtained by making the infusion liquid to flow through the second food product FP2 into a plurality of parallel streams having a reduced pressure. The ribs 117 a may advantageously be formed integrally with the body 110 of the capsule 100.

The independence of the flows of the two beverages, which are dispensed from the respective dispensing openings, allows to exploit the body 110 of the capsule 100 as a pouring means of a dispensing head of a machine for the preparation of infused beverages. This has the advantage to avoid contamination between beverages having different nature and organoleptic properties.

The capsule 100 further comprises closing means of one between the first dispensing opening 115 and the second dispensing opening 117, which can be selectively activated as a result of the emptying of the first food product FP1 or of the second food product FP2 contained in the main cavity 111 and in the inner cavity or chamber 116, respectively. The top edge 116 a of the inner cavity or chamber 116 comprises a plurality of slits 116 b that put the inner cavity or chamber 116 a in fluid communication with the main cavity 111.

With reference to FIG. 3, the configuration of the capsule 100 according to the invention is such that, upon emptying of the first food product FP1 or of the second food product FP2 one between the first dispensing opening 115 and the second dispensing opening 117 is closed by the closing means and the infusion liquid progressively fills the main cavity 111 or the inner cavity or chamber 116 up to the top edge 116 a. Once reached the top edge 116 a, which is tightly fixed to the cover 120, the infusion liquid is forced to pass from one cavity to the other one through the slits 116 b, thus reaching the food product contained therein and allowing infusion and dispensing of the resulting infused beverage through the respective dispensing opening.

Thanks to this configuration, the infusion of the two food products FP1, FP2 and dispensing of the two resulting beverages takes place in a sequential manner without the need to pierce the cover 120 of the capsule 100 at two locations and to employ two separate flows of infusion liquid. In other words, the configuration of the capsule according to the invention may be used in an infusion unit of a conventional type as far as perforation of the capsule cover and the dispensing of the infusion liquid are concerned.

In the following and in the illustrated embodiment reference will be made to the case in which the closing means are associated with the main cavity 111, being it clear that the closing means may be associated in a completely equivalent manner to the inner cavity or chamber 116.

The closing means are made up of a shaped element 130 configured to tightly engage the first dispensing opening 115. The shaped element 130 is made of a material having a density higher than that of water and lower than that of the first food product FP1 contained in the cavity 111. This allows the shaped element 130 to float in the first infused beverage when it flows out through the first dispensing opening 115 and to subsequently sink in the infusion liquid thus closing the first dispensing opening 115.

A tight seal is achieved both thanks to the contour of the shaped element 130 and to the pressure of the infusion liquid fed into the cavity 111 of the capsule 100.

In the illustrated embodiment, the shaped element 130 is for example a sphere, which offers the advantage of providing a good seal independently of the position of the shaped element 130 relative to the first dispensing opening 115.

Still referring to the illustrated embodiment, the bottom wall 112 of the cavity 111 is inclined with respect to the axis A of the body 110 of the capsule 100 and the first dispensing opening 115 is formed at the farthest portion of the bottom wall 112 relative to the flange 114, i.e. at the lowest portion of the cavity 111 when the capsule is in a vertical position, as it is typically used. This configuration facilitates the spherical shaped element 130 to move towards the first dispensing opening 115, because the force of gravity is added to the force generated by the pressure of the infusion liquid.

In the light of the above, it will be appreciated that when the capsule 100 comprises more than one inner cavity or chamber, closing means of the type described above may be provided in each inner cavity or chamber, thereby enabling to replicate the sequential infusion mechanism from one chamber to the adjacent one, once infusion of the respective food product is completed.

Now referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, an alternative embodiment of the capsule according to the invention will be disclosed. The parts of the capsule corresponding to those disclosed in connection with the first embodiment of the invention will be identified by the same reference numbers.

The capsule 100 comprises a body 110 substantially frustum-shaped having an axis A, in turn comprising a main cavity 111, a bottom wall 112 and a peripheral wall 113. The body 110 also comprises a flange 114 formed along a top edge of the peripheral wall 113. In a packaged configuration of the capsule 100, i.e. ready for use, the main cavity 111 contains a measured dose of a first food product FP1 in a granular or particulate form, for example milk powder.

The capsule 100 further comprises a cover 120, e.g. made of a polylaminate material, tightly fixed on the flange 114 so as to allow to preserve over time the food product contained in the main cavity 111.

The capsule 100 also comprises an inner cavity or chamber 116 arranged coaxially to the main cavity 111 and separated therefrom by a wall 111 a that forms a bottom of the main cavity 111. In the bottom wall 111 a of the main cavity 111 a first dispensing opening 115 is formed and a plurality of micro apertures 111 b are formed as well.

In a packaged or ready-to-use configuration of the capsule 100, a second food product FP2 in a granular or particulate form, e.g. coffee, is present in the inner cavity or chamber 116. A second dispensing opening 117 for the dispensing of an infused beverage obtainable by making an infusion liquid to flow through the inner cavity or chamber 116 is formed in the bottom wall 112 of the body 110 of the capsule 100, as it will be described in greater detail in the following. The bottom wall 112 is sealed by a gas-impermeable film (not shown). The second dispensing opening 117 is e.g. arranged at the axis A of the body 110 of the capsule 100.

The capsule 100 also comprises an insert 200 made up of a stem 210 extending in the direction of the axis A of the capsule 100 and a frustum-shaped base 220 that rests on the bottom wall 112. The stem 210 extends axially from the base 220 beyond the flange 114 whereby in a packaged or ready-to-use configuration of the capsule 100 the cover 120 is deformed outwards and features a conical shape.

The stem 210 comprises a base 210 a tightly fitted in the first dispensing opening 115 and a protruding portion 210 b extending axially and contacting the cover 120. The stem 210 also comprises a sharpened portion 211 that protrudes axially from the cavity defined by the frustum-shaped base 220 and thus faces the bottom wall 112 of the capsule 100, which is sealed by a gas-impermeable film F.

Moreover, the base 210 a of the stem 210 and the sharpened portion 211 thereof are hollow and comprise a through cavity 212 configured to allow dispensing from the capsule 100 of the first beverage obtainable in the main cavity or chamber 111, as it will be described in greater detail in the following.

The frustum-shaped base 220 comprises a plurality of micro-apertures 221 having a size comparable to the food product contained in the capsule 100 and has protruding portions 222 having a reduced thickness in the form of circumferential grooves.

The capsule 100 also comprises closing means of one between the first dispensing opening 115 and the second dispensing opening 117, that may selectively be activated upon emptying of the first food product FP1 or the second food product FP2 contained in the main cavity 111 and in the inner cavity or chamber 116, respectively. Similarly to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the closing means are made up of a shaped element 130 advantageously having a spherical shape. In the illustrated embodiment the shaped element 130 is arranged in the main cavity or chamber 111 and is intended to close the first dispensing opening 115.

In order to allow infusion of the food products FP1, FP2 contained in the capsule 100 according to this embodiment of the invention, the capsule is fitted in an infusion unit of a machine for the dispensing of infused beverages. When closing the infusion unit the cover 120 is compressed thus causing the stem 210 of the insert 200 to move axially. The frustum-shaped base 220 is consequently flattened onto the bottom wall 112 of the body 110 of the capsule 100. The movement of the base is facilitated by the circumferential grooves 222. The portion 211 of the stem 210 thus penetrates the film sealing the bottom wall 112 and tears it while being fitted in the opening 117 formed there. The main cavity or chamber 111 is thus in fluid communication with the outer environment through the dispensing opening 115 and the through cavity 212 formed in the base 210 a of the stem 210.

By supplying an infusion liquid from an aperture formed in the cover 120 by a perforation member of the infusion unit, it is thus possible to obtain from the first food product FP1 a first beverage that flows through the first dispensing opening 115 and the through cavity 212. The density and compaction degree of the first and the second food product FP1, FP2 are such that the flow of the first beverage through the micro apertures 111 b formed in the wall dividing the main cavity or chamber 111 from underlying the inner cavity or chamber 116 is substantially negligible.

Once the first food product FP1 has been processed and the first beverage has been dispensed, the shaped element 130 is fitted in the through cavity 212 thereby closing the first dispensing opening 115. The infusion liquid is thus obliged to flow through the micro apertures 111 b, thus reaching the second granular food product FP2 contained in the inner cavity or chamber 116.

Dispensing of the second beverage occurs through the apertures 221 formed in the base 220 and hence through the second dispensing opening 117.

The present invention has hereto been disclosed with reference to preferred embodiments. It will be appreciated that there may be other embodiments relating to the same inventive idea, as defined by the scope of protection of the claims set out below. 

1. A capsule for the preparation of infused beverages, said capsule comprising: i) a body comprising a main cavity or chamber in turn comprising a first dispensing opening adapted to put said main cavity or chamber in fluid communication with an external environment, wherein said main cavity or chamber (111) contains a measured dose of a first food product (FP1) in a granular or particulate form; ii) a cover tightly fixed to a flange of said body, wherein an inner cavity or chamber is formed in the main cavity or chamber, wherein said inner cavity or chamber comprises a second dispensing opening and contains a measured dose of at least one a second food product in granular or particulate form and wherein the main cavity or chamber and the inner cavity or chamber are arranged in fluid communication with one another, characterized by further comprising closing means of one between the first dispensing opening and the second dispensing opening, said closing means being configured to be selectively activated upon emptying of the first food product or of the second food product contained in the main cavity or chamber or in the inner cavity or chamber, respectively, and in that the closing means are formed by a shaped element configured to tightly engage the first dispensing opening or the second dispensing opening, said shaped element being made of a material having a density higher than the water density and lower than the density of the first food product or the second food product in granular or particulate form contained in the main cavity or chamber or the inner cavity or chamber, wherein said capsule is disposable.
 2. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the shaped element is a sphere.
 3. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the inner cavity or chamber extends in an axial direction of the body from a bottom wall thereof to the flange and wherein a top edge of the inner cavity or chamber is tightly fixed to said cover.
 4. The capsule according to claim 3, wherein the bottom wall of the body is inclined relative to an axis of the capsule, the first dispensing opening being formed in a portion of said bottom wall farthest from said flange in the direction of said axis.
 5. The capsule according to claim 3, wherein the first dispensing opening comprises a mesh filter element configured to prevent escape of the particles or granules of the first food product.
 6. The capsule according to claim 3, wherein the second dispensing opening comprises a plate shaped filter element arranged in the inner cavity or chamber and configured to prevent escape of the particles or granules of the second food product.
 7. The capsule according to claim 3, wherein the second dispensing opening comprises a plurality of ribs that stretch out in a direction parallel to the axis.
 8. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the inner cavity or chamber is arranged coaxially to the main cavity or chamber and is separated therefrom in an axial direction by a bottom wall that forms the bottom of the main cavity or chamber, wherein said first dispensing opening is adapted to put said main cavity or chamber in fluid communication with the external environment and is formed in said bottom wall, and wherein a plurality of micro-through openings are also formed in said bottom wall.
 9. The capsule according to claim 8, wherein said closing means are arranged in the main cavity or chamber.
 10. The capsule according to claim 8, further comprising an insert made up of a stem, which extends in a direction of an axis of the capsule, and a frusto-conical shaped base that rests on a bottom wall of the capsule, the bottom wall being sealed by a gas-impermeable film, wherein said stem extends axially from said base beyond said flange and comprises a base tightly fitted in the first dispensing opening and an axially extending projecting portion whose end contacts the cover, the stem also comprising a sharpened portion that protrudes axially into a frusto-conical cavity defined by the base and faces the bottom wall of the capsule in a packaged configuration thereof, said base and said sharpened portion being hollow and defining a through cavity adapted to allow dispensing of an infused beverage from the main cavity or chamber.
 11. The capsule according to claim 12, wherein the frusto-conical shaped base of the insert comprises a plurality of micro-through openings and circumferentially extending portions of smaller thickness in the form of grooves. 